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Fitzpatrick and Kehoe get first World Cup win of the season

Menna Fitzpatrick and Jennifer Kehoe bagged another two medals for their collection with downhill gold and silver at the Para Alpine World Cup Final in Kimberley, Canada.

With six medals from six World Cup races so far this season, Fitzpatrick and Kehoe had yet to win a race having picked up four silvers and two bronzes.

But they broke their duck in the first run of the World Cup Final in Canada, scorching to the win in the visually impaired downhill.

“The course was a little bit bumpy. It was quite steep and then there were a few ruts on the way down, then you have a massive compression,” said Fitzpatrick.

“So there were a lot of forces going through skis and the body so it’s really difficult to keep fighting and keep on the right line – which I’m really pleased that we did.

“Our team aim is always to have fun, and that’s what we had out there.” Menna Fitzpatrick

The Brits clocked a time of 1:21.83, with Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova 0.36s behind in second place, while world downhill champion Millie Knight – with her guide Brett Wild – took bronze a further 0.98s back.

“It feels amazing. We went for it and just set out to go as fast as we could and be brave,” added Kehoe.

“Menna was so brave over those bumps and I’m super proud of her.

“There was quite flat light today, too, so it was harder for Menna to see some of the lumps and bumps, so she just pointed her skis through them and skied like the superstar that she is.

“This is still part of the journey of getting to the Paralympics so we’ll definitely take this and build on it.”

The second downhill race of the day saw Farkasova move up a spot on the podium, taking gold, with Fitzpatrick and Kehoe picking up silver while Knight and Wild finished fourth.

Matt Short and Andy Barlow, the other Brits in action on the day, finished 21st and 22nd in the first downhill standing, before dropping to 22nd and 23rd in the second race of the day.